COLUMBUS, Ohio – Gahanna is the hottest real estate market in the country for the second year in a row, according to Realtor.com.
Realtor.com examined the number of buyers searching for homes in U.S. zip codes and the length of time homes stayed on the market, and found demand was particularly high in the Columbus suburb.
“The (Gahanna) zip code is really an area where buyers can come in and actually afford to buy a home, which is pretty rare in the country right now,” said Hannah Jones, senior economic research analyst at Realtor.com.
Doug Malek and his family moved into their home in Gahanna in 2012. He says the town, with about 35,000 residents, is like a big community.
“It’s a beautiful area,” he said. “It’s quiet. Everyone gets along. There’s a lot of construction going on in the area.”
He understands why it would be attractive to potential homebuyers.
“We get asked quite a lot if we want to sell our property,” he said. “And I know others do too.”
Malek has no intention of selling, but people who put their properties on the market don’t stay there long.
“When a zip code is considered hot, it means that homes are selling really, really quickly,” Jones said. “And that it’s also attracting a lot of buyer traffic.”
That’s exactly what’s happening in Gahanna. A question of supply and demand.
“Buyers, especially younger buyers looking to get into the market now, are facing a really tough market,” she said. “So many are looking for the opportunity to get the most for their money.”
Jones said Gahanna offers buyers affordable prices compared to other markets while still being close to Columbus. Realtor.com named the city the most popular real estate market in the country earlier this year.
“Since we did the report, at least one zip code in Columbus has been on the list of most popular zip codes,” she said. “So Columbus is getting so much attention. People really want to be there.”
Gahanna is the second place to top Realtor.com’s list two years in a row.
